Quintessence Theatre

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Droichead Arts Centre

(Drogheda Arts Festival Commission Winner 2018)

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National Tour of Ireland Autumn 2021

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Photographs by Nuredin Gashi, Jenny Matthews, and Gary and Lisa L'Strange

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"This is a man’s world: always has been. Or has it…?"

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1854, Drogheda, Ireland: Mr McGrath has fallen to his death working on the building of the Boyne Viaduct, leaving his wife, Catherine, alone to fend for herself. 
What’s a poor woman to do…?

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…Put on his clothes, of course, and take up his place in the world!

Kate McGrath was a navvy by name and navvy by nature: Navvy, hawker, drunkard, comedienne, trailblazer, and tale-teller. An Irish woman well beyond her time, she loved, and laughed, and lived a fascinating and colourful existence, packing several lifetimes of adventures into her 60 years as one of Drogheda’s most infamous residents.

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Quintessence Theatre use their dazzling physical ensemble theatre techniques to reimagine bustling 19th century Ireland and the remarkable true story of one of the country’s forgotten historical street characters, Kate the Navvy: the Molly Malone of Louth.

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The Drogheda Arts Festival 2018 Commission winner, The Star of Chester’s Lane is an original comedy that breathes bawdy new life into Irish history and uproariously celebrates the great tradition of the storyteller.

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CAST

Leah Rossiter/Ceara Carney

Fiona Keenan O'Brien

Anthony Kinahan

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CREATIVES & CREW

Directed and Choreographed by Anna Simpson

Historical Dramaturgy by Brendan Matthews

Set and Costume Design by Anna Simpson

Technical Design by Anthony Quinn

Sound Design by Anna Simpson

Audio edits and Trailer by Steven Larkin

Executive Producer Paul Hayes

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